Being Catholic in a non-Catholic world

"The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness." - Pope Benedict XVI

We live in a time like no other: constant stimulation, the politicization of everything, the blurring of lines between the objective and the subjective; it is no wonder why it is so hard to be a devout Catholic in today's society!

Nevertheless, the standard will not be lowered for us - we must persevere and be valiant witnesses to Christ. How does one go about this daunting task? It is wise to remember that, as Catholics, we have access to the immense treasury of graces provided by Holy Mother Church. This article will outline specific sources of these graces and is a good syllabus showcasing what will be found in the "Spiritual Training" section.

1. The Sacraments

"Christ instituted the sacraments of the new law. There are seven: Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. The seven sacraments touch all the stages and all the important moments of Christian life . . ." - CCC 1210

If one is to live like Christ, one must first receive the gifts of Christ. The seven sacraments are our first source of grace. From birth to death, God is providing us with tremendous grace through these sacraments. Enter the Mystical body of Christ through Baptism. Strive for daily reception of the Eucharist. If sanctifying grace is lost by an act of mortal sin, immediately fly to God's unbounded mercy through Confession. Confirmation gives us the strength of the Holy Spirit and creates in us an indelible mark on the soul, signifying us as a soldier of Christ. Matrimony and Holy Orders imparts the special graces needed for one's specific vocation in life. And Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction) gives hope to those during their final trials in this temporal world. Oh how easy it is to become a saint, if only these great gifts were taken advantage of!

2. The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

Every day, the holy sacrifice of the Mass is being offered throughout the world. It is the re-presentation of Christ's passion and death on Calvary. It is through the Mass that God is present under the species of bread and wine. What more could we ask for! God is literally giving us Himself, whole and entire, solely out of the condescension of His mercy, to see that we may grow in His grace and attain life everlasting. It is the greatest glory we could give Him. We are called to participate in this mystical offering every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation, but this is just the bare minimum. Nobody settles for the minimum, why should we, especially when it comes to God, worthy of infinite praise? According to one's situation, one should strive to go to Mass as often as possible. For some, that may be every day, to others that may be every Sunday. As long as you are providing an honest effort, God is well-pleased.

3. Prayer

There are two forms of prayer: vocal and mental. Common vocal prayers are the Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be, etc. There is an overflow of written prayers given to us by the Church, from Our Lady's Magnificat, to novenas dedicated to certain saints, to Scripture. Mental prayer, also called meditation, is a movement of our minds to God. It can usually fall under one of these categories: adoration, intercession, petition, praise, or thanksgiving. Both are necessary for growth in the spiritual life, and both are a sure way to unite our will with God's.

4. Sacramentals

"A sacramental is anything set apart or blessed by the Church to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin. The chief sacramental is the Sign of the Cross." - The Baltimore Catechism

Common sacramentals include the rosary, the scapular, holy water, exorcised salt, holy oil, sacred images of the saints, the list goes on and on. An important thing to note are the promises and/or indulgences applied to those who faithfully carry these spiritual weapons. The mercy of God is at the forefront with sacramentals. Yet another source of strength when it comes to living up to a Catholic standard.

Conclusion

By no means is this list exhaustive. There are countless graces from God that are ripe for the taking, but these are the ones we are going to focus on in this theme of "spiritual training". These four founts of grace will solidify the foundation necessary for an enduring Catholic witness to Christ. May God bless you.